A Running Doc’s Life: How do you deal with Stress?

We all deal with stress. The question comes down to how do we deal with it? What coping mechanisms do we have to cope with stress, and not let it take over our day, or our lives? Exercise, and especially running, has always been my go-to escape for dealing with stress. It gives me time to think. It lets me burn off frustrations. It has been a great coping mechanism. But what else can help?

For me, going out to take pictures the last 5 years has been a great escape. I look at things differently now. Sunrise and sunsets all have something different to offer each day. Sometimes it is just relaxing to sit back and watch how everything continually changes. It is time to just relax, think, and realize what went right for the day, and what did not go right. How can I change it going forward? We all make mistakes. Continually dwelling on them changes nothing, except waste our time, limit our sleep, and ruin our day. Sometimes you just need to put in the Disney movie “Frozen” and keep repeating to yourself to “let it go!”

Spending time with friends who enjoy doing the same things as you is great for reducing stress. When run club goes out for our weekly runs, it is also a therapeutic time to “unload” other issues that have come up in the week, and you realize everybody else is having similar issues, or at least issues to deal with on their own. We can all help problem solve together.

Spending time with Sarah is also a great escape. We just need to figure out how to do this more often. Work at times becomes all consuming, and it is hard to just figure out some time to unwind and relax, and just do something for fun. It can be a struggle many days, but you have to be able to keep trying to commit to it. Otherwise, the stress builds up until you “blow up”.

Then, of course, comes family. The grandkids are a game changer. How can you not let stress melt away when you have someone clinging on to you that is all smiles and giggles? Connor was similar when he was this age too, but right now, Tessa is just such a bundle of fun that you automatically forget all of the other “crap” that went on for the day, or the week, and you can just enjoy the moment! I have no other words to describe it. It you don’t have grandkids yet, then you will just have to trust me on this one.

Every day is a new adventure. Every day is different. Get out and enjoy it. Tough moments will come up, but then the good things do too, and make up the difference in a hurry. Rely on those escape mechanisms. Get out and move. Spend time with family and friends. In other words, “LIVE”! Keep moving everybody!

Dr. Dan

Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak: # 123